Rides

Here are a few details of the MTB-Buddies MTB Trails Database.

First off, it's always a work in progress as there are always new trails to find and explore. If you know of a ride or trail not in here then please create a ride database entry or alternatively post something in our forum under the relevant area to let us all know about it.

Intro out of the way - for the impatient: "Shut up already and just show me them all!" Click on the blocks to the right and start exploring.

Areas and Profiles

Back when this site started the trails database consisted of just short descriptions of various areas to ride around. While this is handy, it doesn't really give anyone a feel for how far one could ride in any particular area. For this reason the original entry type has been renamed 'Ride Area Review' and complemented with 'Ride Profile/Route' entries. The second of these being a place to write about a specific route one took, hopefully with hill profile, etc (links to MotionBased are great for that).

Basically:

Ride Area Review - A description of an area where one can ride.
Ride Profile/Route - A description of an specific ride in (or passing through one or more) of the areas.

The ride profiles page lists all profiles added so far. It's sortable by clicking the columns at the top. Maybe this will get some filters added one day.

Planning a Ride

Of course, what's the point of knowing where the trails are if you can't get out there and have some fun with a few friends... erm... or random strangers? Check out the Ride Planning page for all the low down on how to organise a meet.

Hot Laps

By popular request - 'Hot Laps' - a page dedicated to the times one can make on these trails. Take a look & post a comment with your time.
Interactive Maps

For those with Google Earth we have many automatically generated files, each covering a different area. There are links to these on the individual ride pages, but also a master MTB-Buddies Keyhole Markup file which has network links to all of them.

Categorisation

Many ways to skin a cat, and as it happens, also to describe bike rides. We have several categories that should help you find what you want... well... if the author's have done their job!
By Location

Where is this ride?

There are numerous other trails outside of the 'core' area this site is mainly concerned with. You should see a list of these on the right, explore away. For other locations check around on the 'net for sites similar to this that are based elsewhere. Check out Global Riders for a list of our partners.

By Geography

This category is for describing specific ride profiles. Not to be confused with location, what we mean here is how a ride is cycled. You know, like...

Loops - Erm, yeah, start and finish in the same place.
Out and back - Kindof like a loop, only you turn round at the end of a run and go back the way you came.
One way - Where you'll need alternate transport to get back to the beginning (DH shuttles or trains, etc).
Others - Anything that isn't the above. Usually this applies to areas there are many intersecting trails - like Codgers, Hira, etc.